Patrick Stratford
@pcstratford.bsky.social
Part of the presenting team for The Bill Podcast and currently working on a book project 'The Road to Glendarroch: Making Take The High Road' looking at the history of the iconic Scottish Television series.
https://www.devonfirebooks.com/about
https://www.devonfirebooks.com/about
Pinned
A little bit about myself, my name is Patrick Stratford and I am currently working on a book project. It's all about the story and making of Take The High Road, Scottish Television's drama serial/soap opera that originally ran from 1980 to 2003.
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
I think it's actually down to the way in the 1960s Britain caught on to American culture at a bit of a time-lag, plus the breakup of the Beatles. I shall explain in a thread.
I wonder how much of this difference comes from American Christmas being rooted in German culture?
December 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I think it's actually down to the way in the 1960s Britain caught on to American culture at a bit of a time-lag, plus the breakup of the Beatles. I shall explain in a thread.
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
...closely followed by one from the 1990s. Enjoy!
It's a 1990s UK TV Christmas
YouTube video by Neil Miles
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 7:09 PM
...closely followed by one from the 1990s. Enjoy!
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
Something a little bit different for the YouTube channel this festive season. I give to you these compendiums of Christmas continuity, idents, trails and assorted miscellany. First there's one from the 1980s...
It's a 1980s UK TV Christmas
YouTube video by Neil Miles
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Something a little bit different for the YouTube channel this festive season. I give to you these compendiums of Christmas continuity, idents, trails and assorted miscellany. First there's one from the 1980s...
Glad to see City Lights given another new lease of life. Here's hoping that Series 4, 5 and 6 make it on to the BBC iPlayer as well soon. :)
The first three series of City Lights are now on iPlayer, looks like series three hasn’t been repeated since 1988 according to the BBC website. It deserved a long life on VHS, DVD and iPlayer, sadly that wasn’t to be.
December 1, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Glad to see City Lights given another new lease of life. Here's hoping that Series 4, 5 and 6 make it on to the BBC iPlayer as well soon. :)
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
This is on the BBC Scotland channel and iPlayer tonight from 9pm, a trip back to the 80s and 90s in the company of cast, crew and creator of City Lights.
A few rarely seen bits of archive, including clips from the pilot with Billy Greenlees as Chancer and no studio audience.
A few rarely seen bits of archive, including clips from the pilot with Billy Greenlees as Chancer and no studio audience.
Dream jobs do come along… I’ve spent the last few months immersed in BBC Scotland’s City Lights as Assistant Producer on a new 60min doc telling the story of the show. With vintage clips + new interviews, it’s pure dead brilliant!
On telly/iPlayer 30th November.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
On telly/iPlayer 30th November.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
November 30, 2025 at 5:54 PM
This is on the BBC Scotland channel and iPlayer tonight from 9pm, a trip back to the 80s and 90s in the company of cast, crew and creator of City Lights.
A few rarely seen bits of archive, including clips from the pilot with Billy Greenlees as Chancer and no studio audience.
A few rarely seen bits of archive, including clips from the pilot with Billy Greenlees as Chancer and no studio audience.
Part 2 of my interview with actors Karl Collins and Chris Simmons for The Bill Podcast is now available. Hope you enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vAN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vAN...
The Bill Podcast 144: Karl Collins and Chris Simmons (Part 2)
YouTube video by The Bill Podcast
www.youtube.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Part 2 of my interview with actors Karl Collins and Chris Simmons for The Bill Podcast is now available. Hope you enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vAN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vAN...
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
Network DVD and Blu-rays are available again via Future Network/Quoit Media futurenetwork.wales?v=7885444af42e Liquidated stock apparently. Now I can finally buy Bottoms Up! on blu-ray and never watch it.
Future Network – FREE UK DELIVERY! NEW TITLES ADDED WEEKLY!
futurenetwork.wales
November 17, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Network DVD and Blu-rays are available again via Future Network/Quoit Media futurenetwork.wales?v=7885444af42e Liquidated stock apparently. Now I can finally buy Bottoms Up! on blu-ray and never watch it.
Very sad news. Probably one of the finest actresses this country has ever produced.
An journey that went from a Liver Bird to an Oscar nominee. From a could have been Doctor Who companion to returning as Queen Victoria in the show. years later.
My heart goes out to her family at this time. RIP
An journey that went from a Liver Bird to an Oscar nominee. From a could have been Doctor Who companion to returning as Queen Victoria in the show. years later.
My heart goes out to her family at this time. RIP
Pauline Collins, star of Shirley Valentine, dies aged 85
Her family said she died peacefully in her London care home having had Parkinson's for several years.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Very sad news. Probably one of the finest actresses this country has ever produced.
An journey that went from a Liver Bird to an Oscar nominee. From a could have been Doctor Who companion to returning as Queen Victoria in the show. years later.
My heart goes out to her family at this time. RIP
An journey that went from a Liver Bird to an Oscar nominee. From a could have been Doctor Who companion to returning as Queen Victoria in the show. years later.
My heart goes out to her family at this time. RIP
Here is the first of a two part interview I did with actors Karl Collins and Chris Simmons for The Bill Podcast. As well as their memories of Sun Hill, we also discuss working together again on Chris' directorial debut 'The Broken Arrow'.
Hope you enjoy! Part 2 coming next month. :)
Hope you enjoy! Part 2 coming next month. :)
The Bill Podcast 143: Karl Collins and Chris Simmons (Part 1)
YouTube video by The Bill Podcast
m.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Here is the first of a two part interview I did with actors Karl Collins and Chris Simmons for The Bill Podcast. As well as their memories of Sun Hill, we also discuss working together again on Chris' directorial debut 'The Broken Arrow'.
Hope you enjoy! Part 2 coming next month. :)
Hope you enjoy! Part 2 coming next month. :)
Spent today organising my Doctor Who figures into a display cabinet for my office that I got second hand recently.
Might paint it TARDIS blue as well.
Might paint it TARDIS blue as well.
October 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Spent today organising my Doctor Who figures into a display cabinet for my office that I got second hand recently.
Might paint it TARDIS blue as well.
Might paint it TARDIS blue as well.
My good friend and publisher Oliver Crocker has helped to bring to life the memoirs of Barry Appleton, who before going on to write for The Bill and Taggart, served as a real life Detective in the Flying Squad.
I can't wait to read this when it comes out!
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Twentieth-Ce...
I can't wait to read this when it comes out!
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Twentieth-Ce...
October 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My good friend and publisher Oliver Crocker has helped to bring to life the memoirs of Barry Appleton, who before going on to write for The Bill and Taggart, served as a real life Detective in the Flying Squad.
I can't wait to read this when it comes out!
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Twentieth-Ce...
I can't wait to read this when it comes out!
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Twentieth-Ce...
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
I’ve just heard BBC Studios will be issuing replacement discs for the original UK release of Doctor Who The Collection Season 20. To claim send proof of your original purchase and a your address to [email protected]
October 3, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I’ve just heard BBC Studios will be issuing replacement discs for the original UK release of Doctor Who The Collection Season 20. To claim send proof of your original purchase and a your address to [email protected]
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
A couple of overnight uploads means we've been able to extend this to eleven regions.
20 YEARS AGO TODAY: every ITV region is given an hour to do what they want with on a 50th anniversary theme. Nine of them dealt with the brief thus.
ITV 50 regional specials
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:34 AM
A couple of overnight uploads means we've been able to extend this to eleven regions.
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
Happy 70th Birthday to #ITV - to celebrate why not have a listen to this album that celebrates the very best of broadcasting from that era…
open.spotify.com/album/0AxH9KGl…
@itvnews.bsky.social @classicfm.com @boomradio.co.uk
open.spotify.com/album/0AxH9KGl…
@itvnews.bsky.social @classicfm.com @boomradio.co.uk
Spotify – Web Player
https://open.spotify.com/album/0AxH9KGl…
September 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Happy 70th Birthday to #ITV - to celebrate why not have a listen to this album that celebrates the very best of broadcasting from that era…
open.spotify.com/album/0AxH9KGl…
@itvnews.bsky.social @classicfm.com @boomradio.co.uk
open.spotify.com/album/0AxH9KGl…
@itvnews.bsky.social @classicfm.com @boomradio.co.uk
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
This is good news. The TV Times is now included in the British Newspaper Archive. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/tv-ti...
TV Times in British Newspaper Archive
Explore and read 72160 pages of TV Times on the British Newspaper Archive, 26 years of history, local and international news stories, different and free sample issues to view everyday
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
September 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
This is good news. The TV Times is now included in the British Newspaper Archive. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/tv-ti...
Went to the Glasgow Film Theatre last night to see a brilliant new film Dirty Boy, written and directed by Doug Rao and starring Graham McTavish. Definitely go and see it if you can!
I was honoured to interview Doug for The Bill Podcast and it was a pleasure to meet him and Graham afterwards. :)
I was honoured to interview Doug for The Bill Podcast and it was a pleasure to meet him and Graham afterwards. :)
September 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Went to the Glasgow Film Theatre last night to see a brilliant new film Dirty Boy, written and directed by Doug Rao and starring Graham McTavish. Definitely go and see it if you can!
I was honoured to interview Doug for The Bill Podcast and it was a pleasure to meet him and Graham afterwards. :)
I was honoured to interview Doug for The Bill Podcast and it was a pleasure to meet him and Graham afterwards. :)
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
True story.
September 1, 2025 at 8:27 AM
True story.
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
21 years later, Southern Independent Television advertises in the trade newspapers to thank suppliers and advertisers for their support since 1958.
August 30, 2025 at 8:51 AM
21 years later, Southern Independent Television advertises in the trade newspapers to thank suppliers and advertisers for their support since 1958.
It's disgraceful that the BBC have done this. It's bad enough that other TV companies have made it difficult for independent researchers to access their archives and I hope this disappointment can be stopped.
Join the campaign to protect the future of independent research at the BBC Written Archives Centre
Follow the instructions at the top of this open letter to join the campaign and sign
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Follow the instructions at the top of this open letter to join the campaign and sign
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Open letter BBC Written Archives - August 2025
Join the campaign to protect the future of independent research at the BBC Written Archives Centre The following text is an open letter expressing the concern of historians and researchers about chan...
docs.google.com
August 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It's disgraceful that the BBC have done this. It's bad enough that other TV companies have made it difficult for independent researchers to access their archives and I hope this disappointment can be stopped.
Reposted by Patrick Stratford
At about 4.10pm on this day 54 years ago, something weird started happening on Scottish Television. There was no announcement, and no credit was given to the person who had created them, but strange short films suddenly started popping up in the schedules youtu.be/AA9IdHtHk_0?...
August 26, 2025 at 10:47 AM
At about 4.10pm on this day 54 years ago, something weird started happening on Scottish Television. There was no announcement, and no credit was given to the person who had created them, but strange short films suddenly started popping up in the schedules youtu.be/AA9IdHtHk_0?...
I want one!
My new wall clock from @hiddenbritain.bsky.social is larger and more impressive than I expected!
Now, every time it hits 10.55pm I’ll have to watch a horror double-bill or an Outer Limits.
Now, every time it hits 10.55pm I’ll have to watch a horror double-bill or an Outer Limits.
August 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I want one!
Lulu is a bit of a divisive figure here in Scotland. For instance my Mum cannot stand her (and apparently Barbara Dickson can’t either). A lot of the antipathy seems to come from the fact she changes her accent whenever it best suits her.
Still it was fascinating to hear more about her music career
Still it was fascinating to hear more about her music career
Paid backers now have a half-hour bonus episode on Lulu, "Boom-Bang-a-Bang", and how cultural omnipresence in light entertainment can lead to people not realising how much some stars have achieved.
500 Songs Bonus: "Boom-Bang-a-Bang" by Lulu | Andrew Hickey
Get more from Andrew Hickey on Patreon
www.patreon.com
August 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Lulu is a bit of a divisive figure here in Scotland. For instance my Mum cannot stand her (and apparently Barbara Dickson can’t either). A lot of the antipathy seems to come from the fact she changes her accent whenever it best suits her.
Still it was fascinating to hear more about her music career
Still it was fascinating to hear more about her music career